Comparison of the infrared spectra of georgeite and a phase which can be reproducibily synthesised in the laboratory shows that the mineral is an amorphous analogue of malachite, Cu2CO3(OH)2. Synthetic studies also explain the chemical conditions under which georgeite may form, as well as those which can cause it to react to either malachite or chalconatronite. Parallels may be drawn between the laboratory observations and known mineral associations of georgeite.